Hope delayed: SW La. will have to wait longer for VA clinic

Published 12:13 pm Thursday, March 24, 2016

By American Press Staff

Another delay in the opening of a permanent Veterans Affairs clinic in Lake Charles has members of the area’s congressional delegation fuming.

U.S. Rep. Charles Boustany, R-Lafayette, and Sen. David Vitter, R-La., conducted a call Wednesday with VA officials, telling the agency leaders that “the continued delays are totally unacceptable and that Southwest Louisiana veterans need to see results, not more excuses,” said Jack Pandol, a Boustany spokesman.

The two asked for a plan of action from the VA, and they, along with Sen. Bill Cassidy, R-La., sent a letter to Robert McDonald, VA secretary.

“It is absolutely unacceptable for the VA to fail meeting their already delayed deadline to open permanent VA clinics in Southwest Louisiana. Louisiana veterans have waited long enough,” Vitter said in a statement.

“The Lake Charles VA clinic has taken more than 13 years to get approved,” said Cassidy. “It’s seen delay after delay, costing veterans access to quality health care. This is unacceptable.”

The lawmakers have been pushing to get the VA to complete the permanent facilities by the end of the year.

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“The VA owes an explanation to the delegation and to the veterans of Southwest Louisiana on how it bungled vetting this contract, resulting in further delays,” Boustany said in a statement. “I expect to meet with VA leadership as soon as possible, and I will demand the truth and a clear plan for how the VA will make this right with our veterans.”

The last update in February was that the clinic would open on time, according to Peter Dancy, the new director of the Alexandria VA Health Care System. The American Press reported that the 24,000-square-foot clinic would open by the end of 2016.

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A temporary Veterans Affairs clinic in Lake Charles at 814 W. McNeese St. Suite 100 will remain Southwest Louisiana’s only care facility for vets. (Crystal Stevenson / American Press)

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